Page 72 of Live Love Lasso

My heart rate rises. What he’s saying is meaningful, important. And it feels so good to be wanted like this.

“I like taking care of you.” He brushes his mouth over mine.

Just then, my stomach helpfully rumbles.

Furyon laughs and bends further down, kissing a path along my breasts to my belly button. “I think right now that means you need to be fed and I did promise food and fuckery. Let’s go to town and grab you something, alright?”

He sits upright and tucks his dick back into his pants. I pull my skirt back up, still trying to catch my breath.

“I think you need a burger, woman.” He puts the truck in drive and does a circle to head back to town.

When we pass the Keeper’s mansion, she waves her gates open and shut in greeting.

“Furyon, look at that!” I hiss, pointing out the window. “I think she’s telling us we can come back to hang. Maybe when I’m not sobbing.”

He stares at the mansion in wonder. “I do believe you’re right, baby. You need to find a time to go make friends, I guess.”

I’m still considering that twenty minutes later when Bluebell snorts as she slaps a menu on the bartop in front of me. “Lawd, Lemon, you look a hot mess. Not to mention Oz told me he saw you earlier in the tunnels. Girl, what are we about to learn about you and Furyon’s relationship? It seems like karaoke is your love language.”

I chuckle and wave as he picks through the crowd. “Nothin’ from me, girl. He told me it’s his turn to go. So I guess we’re gonna see what he’s made of.”

She rests on both forearms, staring as Furyon grabs the mike and punches a series of buttons on the karaoke machine. “Damn, Lemon. You’ve got that man all tied up. In the entire time I’ve known Furyon, he’s never done karaoke. Not once.”

He’s doing it for me. I know that.

The first notes of Tim McGraw’s “She’s My Kind of Rain” bring tears back to my eyes. I beam as he belts out the notes.

“Gods, he’s really fuckin’ good,” Bluebell murmurs. She bats her lashes playfully at me. “And he’s singin’ you a really romantic song too. Guess you’re keeping him, huh?”

I smile as realization courses fully through me. “Yeah,” I say softly. “I’m definitely keeping him. Or maybe he’s keeping me but, yeah, Bluebell.”

She claps her hands together with a big, mischievous smile. “Does that mean you’re sticking around, Lem? ‘Cause me and Oz would love that so much.”

The bar roof beams creak happily, and the counter top ripples, sending two shots down toward us. Bluebell bursts into laughter, blue brows rising.

“Guess you can’t leave anyhow, Lemon. ‘Cause PG is keepin’ you, too. And you know she don’t hardly keep nobody.”

I haven’t even told her about my burgeoning friendship with the Keeper’s mansion.

Bluebell laughs so joyfully at the simple idea of my presence. And in that moment, I know I’m not leaving Pine Gulch.

Furyon

I rap on the whitewashed wood door, hat in one hand. Someone pushes the ruffled curtain aside, peering out at me before undoing the locks and opening the door.

I incline my head. “Bryony, how are you this fine evening?”

She narrows her eyes at me. “Just dandy, Furyon, but it ain’t like you to show up at our door, so what gives?”

I laugh at her direct nature, where her sister’s got a tiny bit more tact.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I return the harsh look. “I’m here to tell you you’re gonna stop plastering me and Lemon on the front page of The Gossip.”

She shrugs as her sister joins her in the doorway. “Furyon, we ain’t in charge of the news.”

I cut in, “It ain’t news, it’s The Gossip, for gods’ sake. When you two started up that column, you agreed it was just for fun, and nobody would get hurt. Well, Lemon’s hurt now, and it’s causing problems between her and her father. So I’m telling you it’s gotta stop. That ain’t the spirit of what y’all were doing, as I understand it.”

Bryony’s playful smile falls as she claps a hand over her mouth. “Gods, no, of course not. It’s just a fun way to keep us all connected. We won’t say another word about her. Oh my gosh, my heart hurts to think she’s dealing with nonsense on our account.”